Anthony Loke loses Chennah seat in Negeri Sembilan election, steps down as state DAP chief

DAP secretary‑general and Transport Minister Anthony Loke was defeated in the Chennah state constituency of Negeri Sembilan, losing to MCA candidate Siow Kong Choon by 688 votes. The loss ends Loke’s 22‑year tenure as the party’s Negeri Sembilan chief and his 13‑year hold on the Chennah seat. Loke, who also serves as Seremban MP, announced he will relinquish the state DAP chief role following the defeat.

Political analysts say the result raises questions about the party’s dual‑role strategy of fielding senior leaders in both parliamentary and state contests. Voter fatigue and diminished appeal of high‑profile candidates are cited as factors that may have contributed to the outcome, prompting a reassessment of DAP’s candidate deployment ahead of future elections.